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Anxiety

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Chris_B Forums etiquette: give support to receive support
  • replies: 0

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newb... View more

Hi everyone, particularly any new members who may be reading. From time to time, we get contacted by members who are unhappy that they haven’t received a lot of replies to their posts. Our community champions work very hard to make sure that all newbies are welcomed when they first post, and we understand that it’s a big step to post for the first time on a forum like this, especially if you aren’t feeling great. It’s important to remember, though, that these forums are a community of real people, just like you, not a one-on-one support environment like going to see your psychologist. To get the best out of being here, one of the best tips we can offer is give support to receive support. Being a good community member means: participating in different threads (not just your own), replying to people who have taken the time to reply to you (even if it’s just to say thank you), and... posting words of emotional support and encouragement when you see others who are hurting and reaching out. You don’t have to feel obliged to solve the problems of others: that’s not what we’re here for. But you can offer empathy and what you’ve learned from your own life experiences, even if it’s just a line or two, eg. “I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support and tell you I care about what is happening to you and hope life will get better soon.” Try to develop an interest in the journeys of others here on the forums. You may be surprised at how good being an active, caring member here can make you feel. For those of you who have had good experiences giving support here on the forums, please post in this thread here and let us know how it has helped you on your journey.

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Bookworm_ My dog is making me anxious
  • replies: 3

Hiii I'm new to this. My parents have gone overseas and I'm home alone with my sister and the dog. Today hasn't been a good day. I keep having anxious thoughts about everything and I can't find a way to relax myself. Even my dog is making me nervous ... View more

Hiii I'm new to this. My parents have gone overseas and I'm home alone with my sister and the dog. Today hasn't been a good day. I keep having anxious thoughts about everything and I can't find a way to relax myself. Even my dog is making me nervous as she won't listen to me and keeps barking for attention. I haven't been sleeping very well either lately. I keep waking up several times during the night. Any advice is appreciated thanks

Bond007 Another OCD sufferer with some tips and questions..
  • replies: 5

Hello folks, New to this site but let me start by saying that I have suffered with pure type of OCD for 7 to 8 years now. It all began when I suffered from testicular cancer stage-1 many years ago. Unfortunately there was no one to talk to and was pr... View more

Hello folks, New to this site but let me start by saying that I have suffered with pure type of OCD for 7 to 8 years now. It all began when I suffered from testicular cancer stage-1 many years ago. Unfortunately there was no one to talk to and was pretty isolated due to my family being overseas during treatment. It was bloody heck of a difficult and testing times. This obviously caused me depression, anxiety and OCD. I have overcome this cancer. Moving forward to present, I still have OCD and depression. My OCD seems to lie dormant if I take proper sleep and if I can avoid caffeine completely. I mean even damn decaf tea can cause me anxiety, obsessions and compulsions to come back which means i have grown sensitive to caffeine. If I take caffeine even in decaf tea or coffee form, than I need to make sure I take my medication too. My doctor has prescribed SSRI which I am taking daily. As my OCD/anxiety lies dormant without any caffeine, doing ERP/CBT is pretty ineffective. I read somewhere that for CBT/ERP to be effective there has to be some level of anxiety while doing exposure. For example one of the obsession and anxiety I suffer from is fear of addictive illicit drugs like ice. It just scares me completely even when I have never taken any drugs whatsoever. My main questions are: Have you been able to completely quit caffeine altogether? I mean no decaf as well. If so how easy you find to not take any caffeine at all? What is your main tip about overcoming OCD? How do you practise ERP for pure type of OCD without any physical compulsions? Any suggestions for my obsessions and fears? Tips: Eat and rest well. Avoiding caffeine seems to definitely help. Going for a run or even walk can be helpful too. Look for less stressful job if work makes you more anxious. Use of essential oil like lavender oil on your feet before going to sleep is helpful. Meditation and affirmations on youtube are handy. Please share your thoughts.. thanks

-Peter- Panic Disorder. I don't know what is happening...
  • replies: 11

Hello, I'm a 29 year old man from rural WA. About three weeks ago I was doing some shopping at Coles when I started feeling nausea, tingling in my hands, panic, tightness in the chest and trembling uncontrollably. The girl at the checkout was looking... View more

Hello, I'm a 29 year old man from rural WA. About three weeks ago I was doing some shopping at Coles when I started feeling nausea, tingling in my hands, panic, tightness in the chest and trembling uncontrollably. The girl at the checkout was looking at me strangely and I know why. My hands were shaking and all the colour had drained from my face. I looked like a ghost. In the past 3 weeks I have had around 10 or so of these horrific panic attacks. I went to the hospital 1 week ago and was referred to a local GP who started me back on medication. In the doctors waiting room I had another massive panic attack and almost feinted. I knew I had to get help so I stuck in there. When the doctor showed me into her room I was basically in tears. I have another appointment with the Doctor a week from now but I am too scared of having another attack in the waiting room. Now whenever I leave the house I am getting these panic attacks. I purposely go to the Deli just down the road so I don't have to go into town. I am no longer able to function properly. I am terrified of having more attacks. I am completely dominated by these feelings and it seems they have no trigger, apart from leaving the house. This is by far the most horrible feeling I've had in my entire life. I am considering asking the doctor to visit me at my home because I don't feel safe to drive. I was previously taking medication three months ago but I weined myself off them as I thought I could cope. Is this just a reaction to stopping my meds? I scored extreme on both the anxiety and depression tests. I really need help to overcome this because this is absolute torture. Thank you for reading my long winded post. I really hope whoever is reading this is having a better time than I am.

Sadlad i dont know if i have anxiety or what i just feel trapped
  • replies: 4

ive never wrote anything like this before but im gonna do my best, i used to be so happy almost all the time i remember that i used to talk to everyone, but i never had many friends. im the type of person that takes stuff very seriously so every time... View more

ive never wrote anything like this before but im gonna do my best, i used to be so happy almost all the time i remember that i used to talk to everyone, but i never had many friends. im the type of person that takes stuff very seriously so every time someone said to me i was weird or annoying i took that to heart and over the time i just became less and less of the person i was i used to be very spontaneous and say stuff without thinking all the time and be super silly but now im just shut down, sad all the time like i cant speak or say a thing without having to think about but even then i still cant get the words out and if i do manage to its embarrassing and then i sit there awkwardly for no reason. for some reason i just cant stop thinking about everthing besides the conversation, i just want to be like everyone else and just sit there and have a conversation that just flows out your mouth instead every second of it im just waiting for it to end. im only 17 so not being able to talk is really taking effect on my life, i now have no friends really and i just sit at home everyday dreading going outside even thought i really want to go out and make my life better. im sorry if this was abit confusing but could anyone please give me some information on whats wrong with me because i really hate my life and i would love some help

amalee78 Health anxiety
  • replies: 4

I have suffered from extreme health anxiety since 4 years ago when I had a benign rumour removed from my adrenal gland, the operation went wrong and I almost died. A year later they found a very small tumour on my other adrenal gland and while I have... View more

I have suffered from extreme health anxiety since 4 years ago when I had a benign rumour removed from my adrenal gland, the operation went wrong and I almost died. A year later they found a very small tumour on my other adrenal gland and while I have been told it is stable and just needs to be watched I live in constant fear of cancer and death. I also have to have an endoscopy this year because there is a chance I have Crohn's disease, but again, I live in constant fear of cancer and death. its becoming exhausting and overwhelming. I keep telling myself I've been told I'm ok and I try mindfulness activities a and meditation, but every day is so difficult living with a constant feeling of doom and dread - especially since I have 3 kids and one is only 10 weeks old. I can't shake the feeling I'm going to die and leave them . i guess I'm hoping if I verbalise my fears it will erase them slightly. Does anyone else feel similar or have some tips or suggestions for me?

Yora Panic attacks?
  • replies: 3

Hi. New here. So I think I've been having panic attacks. Sometimes they are full on and fast (over with in a few minutes)and other times they fluctuate between horrible and not too bad over the course of several hours. My chest feels tight,my heart b... View more

Hi. New here. So I think I've been having panic attacks. Sometimes they are full on and fast (over with in a few minutes)and other times they fluctuate between horrible and not too bad over the course of several hours. My chest feels tight,my heart beats that hard I can hear and feel it, I can't breathe, my throat, neck and shoulders tense up, I lose the ability to control my tongue (talking becomes extremely difficult) and I feel like Im dying. Sometimes I think it happens when I'm asleep but even though I wake up I can't move and that makes me panic more. These started in earnest about 4 months ago while I was moving house. I was okay for a while but recent events have set them off again. I've always been high strung, but have gotten worse over the last few years. I went through a very difficult breakup and now I'm raising 2 kids by myself. I'm working 2 jobs and will be starting a third next week. My son was recently diagnosed with autism. He also has global developmental delay. Early last week I just hit the wall. I'm having issues with one of my jobs (the one I really can't afford to lose) Even with 3 jobs it will be a struggle this year. My ex came to visit the kids with fresh track marks the other day (so I've got that to contend with) Then there's the every day stuff that just gets too much. It really shouldn't be hard but it is. Getting the housework done and working kids appointments around work should be basic scheduling but something always goes wrong. I ended up in tears at work. I've never done that before. I just needed help with something and when I realised my only option was to deal with it myself I broke down even though I've been doing it myself for years anyway. It seems like every time I get a moment to myself I spend it crying. The panic attacks are frightening me and I know I need to go to the doctor but I don't know what to say or what I should even say I need. Just the thought of having to schedule a doctors appointment around work and the kids activities and the things that could go wrong at work to stop me getting there is enough to set off a panic attack (isn't it ironic) Any advice on what to tell the doctor or how to juggle everything efficiently would be great. Thanks.

hoya hoya
  • replies: 5

hello im new on here but have suffered GAD and depression for 20 years now aged 70 I want to feel happier. I want to know do others spend hours in bed and suffer nausea . Illness worries me, does any one else suffer this way or am I just being silly.... View more

hello im new on here but have suffered GAD and depression for 20 years now aged 70 I want to feel happier. I want to know do others spend hours in bed and suffer nausea . Illness worries me, does any one else suffer this way or am I just being silly.I also suffer with agraphobia and find it very difficult to leave home even with my husband , who I am afraid does not understand why am am the way I am , he is good to me but allows me to lay in bed when I know I should be up doing things. Just to know if others suffer the same way will; make me feel so much better, thank you for your time.

Zeffy *Insert Title to entice people to read about my anxiety here*
  • replies: 3

Hey guys, First time posting, feels weird doing it actually. I've never really spoken about the topic much, but its gotten to the stage where I needed to put my thoughts 'to paper' per say. I'll get the formalities out of the way, I'm in my mid 20's ... View more

Hey guys, First time posting, feels weird doing it actually. I've never really spoken about the topic much, but its gotten to the stage where I needed to put my thoughts 'to paper' per say. I'll get the formalities out of the way, I'm in my mid 20's and I seem to be experiencing some sort of anxiety. I don't know where to start, I suppose the beginning will suffice. Years ago I remember experiencing bouts of dizziness and general nervousness for no good reason, this was quickly dismissed and all seemed to go back to normal. However over the past year I've noticed a real change which seems to be getting worse. My symptoms include: - Occasionally small panic attacks but not frequent - Often scared of dying/losing what I have,(My cousin recently got diagnosed with terminal cancer which may have been a trigger) - On a similar note to above, I'm often thinking I've got some sort of disease. This started off as a passing thought but is becoming more frequent and concerning. Also the dreaded 'what if' e.g what if I do have cancer and every mere second that passes my body is being overcome by a horde of murderous cells. - Finally the one that disturbs me the most is a sort of detachment from reality. I've always been a bit of a thinker, but my thoughts seem to overwhelm themselves, I don't feel completely 'present' for lack of a better term. I'm rather worried I'm going crazy. With this being said, I can still function day to day and try to maintain a good sense of humor. However I work in a job where Mental Health issues may be a set back, due to the type of work I do. I suppose I don't really want to talk to friends and family as I know they've got their own problems and they often look to me as the rock and I don't want to rob them of that. I also feel quite guilty/ashamed, as I mentioned earlier my cousin doesn't have too long left and here I am worrying about myself. I guess I'm worried because I don't know whats happening, how to fix it or if it will even get better. Argh, such hard hitting questions haha. As I said I think I needed to write this down so it makes more sense to me, but if you have any advice or even your own personal story, it would be awesome to hear!

notbroken1971 Anxiety and my battle.
  • replies: 1

Well its the same old story, partner goes away and anxiety spikes through the roof. Have tried keeping myself busy and loading up the calendar for a week, its the night times that get me the most when i lay there and try to switch off. So i try to go... View more

Well its the same old story, partner goes away and anxiety spikes through the roof. Have tried keeping myself busy and loading up the calendar for a week, its the night times that get me the most when i lay there and try to switch off. So i try to go working on something until midnight and then sleep straight away and be so tired i cant stay awake. Not sustainable i know. I feel bad because what i am dealing with is nothing compared to what i read here so i feel silly. I am focusing on the end of the week and the good times then...the body urge to 'run'becomes overwhelming. What do others do? Need some advice here.

J23 Anxiety
  • replies: 3

Is there any help you can get that comes to you if you're that bad that leaving the house is not an option

Is there any help you can get that comes to you if you're that bad that leaving the house is not an option